Prefolded diaper



Patented June 17, 1952 PREFOLDED DIAPER John J. Gannon, Clinton, Mass., assignor to Chicopee Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 1, 1950, Serial No. 182,690

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a prefolded diaper.

Among its objects is to provide a new and simple infants diaper that can be easily secured to the body without folding. The diaper accommodates for growth throughout infancy, and folding is obviated despite the size of the wearer.

Another novel feature of the diaper is its functional design. Others have proposed a panel of a greater thickness of material localized in the zones where extra absorbency is necessary. Conventional paneled diapers, however, have seams and projections where the panel is fitted into the diaper and. along their marginal edges. These seams and projections contact the body of the infant and irritate the skin. A further object of this invention is to avoid chafing and irritation of the wearer by providing a diaper with no scams or projections in contact with the infants body.

Bulkiness of the diaper is thought to be con= ducive to the bowing of the infants legs. Still another object of the invention is to reduce the bulkiness of the diaper to allow normal balance, freedom of movement, better ventilation and a trim, snug fit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from my description and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the diaper material showing the first step in the folding operation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the diaper material showing the second step in the folding op eration;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my diaper showing the folded diaper before stitching;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the exterior sur= face of my diaper after sewing; and

Fig. 5 is a side section taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 4 showing the seamless structure of the interior surface of my diaper after sewing.

An elongated sheet I0 (Fig. 1) comprising one or more layers of diaper material is first folded over a width A, a dimension equal to the breadth of the desired panel, at one of the lateral edges I2. The opposing lateral edge I4 of sheet I 0 is then folded over the same surface of the sheet a width B, a dimension exceeding the breadth of the desired panel (Fig. 2). The lateral edges 12 and I4 then confront one another over the same surface of sheet I0 at a distance C. I prefer to have the panel extending symmetrically down the longitudinal axis I6 of the finished diaper. Hence it is desirable to make the width B equal to the sum of width A and one-half of the width C Next the sheet I0 is folded to superpose lateral edge I2 on lateral edge I4 (Fig. 3). The thickened panel section I 8 thus formed in the diaper is enveloped between an exterior surface 20 and an interior surface22 of the diaper. The panel is secured to the exterior surface 20 by any conventional means such as by stitching but is not secured to the inner surface 22. The diaper at this stage of the operation is an open tube having a multi-layered panel section I8. The tube is flattened with the panel section laying symmetrically astride the longitudinal axis I6 of the diaper. The tube may be closed by sewing together the layers at the marginal ends 24 of the finished diaper (Fig. 4).

Extra plies of material may be inserted in the panel section of the diaper to achieve greater absorbency where it is most needed by inserting several layers of material in the panel section before securing the panel shut. This is optional.

It will be noted that my diaper has no seams or projections on its interior surface nor along the lateral edges that can come in contact with infants body (Fig. 5).

The invention claimed is:

A diaper having an interior surface free from seams and projections comprising an elongated rectangular fabric sheet having its two opposing lateral edges folded over the same surface of the sheet in parallel relation to form opposed marginal panels of unequal breadth with a separating section of the sheet between the marginal panels; the sheet folded to superpose the marginal panels and the lateral edges of the sheet. whereby a three-ply rectangular panel section enveloped between the interior surface of the diaper and the exterior surface of the panel section is formed; the panel section secured to the exterior surface of the panel section, thereby defining a tubular sheet having a panel section; the tube flattened with the panel section lying substantially along the central portions of the sheet; and the open edges of the flattened tubular sheet secured together.

JOHN J. GANNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,145,137 Sayers Jan. 24, 1939 2,476,869 Hughes July 19, 1949 2,486,806 Seymour et al. Nov. 1, 1949 

